Question for other instructors. What are some tricks you guys have for getting a person that is really out of shape to get up on their heels. I will usually try to teach them to get up toe side because it isn't as physically demanding. Also seems good for people that are really scared. (Side note)...our beginner slope is about as steep as most mountains near here blues....and our lodge is at the top of the mnt.

One trick I use when teaching people to strap in without sitting down when it is icy is to have them wedge their glove under the toe edge of the board while they strap in. It works like a parking brake keeping the board still while they strap in. When they are ready to go, they just grab the glove and off they go.

Good idea with the glove but a lot if these people I'm talking about couldn't do the whole bend over thing. Thanks for the input. Glad to see i was doing the "right" thing. Icy and steep....welcome to my mountain.

Wow great points as always. In many real life situations or just work issues. I often start with the hardest task 1st then move to the easier tasks and things do go smoother or the work seems to get done faster. Hearing that starting toeside had some distinct advantage to the final learning of putting both turns togehter to ride makes sound advice and obviously works.

People in this shape already realize their disadvantage and kudos to them for getting out there. Great tips to keep them encouraged and give them the tools they need to learn to ride. Maybe this was their way to start to change, if not doesn't matter, they are learning to ride for whatever reason.

I would usually have people get really used to heel sliding down the hill with one foot out, just to get used to the pressuring needed to slide vs. stop. Once they got good at this, I would literally have them do some squats while moving, to get used to moving their upper body up and down while keeping the pressure the same on the heel edge.

I call it the "squat and skid"

My dog uses a similar technique to leave his weaponized ass juice on the carpet.

That way, with the unfit ones, you can have them grab the toe edge or boot or something with one hand just to get some weight forward/leverage, then in one motion, push off snow with one hand and pull forward with the other. The key point was using one motion to "throw" themselves into a heel skid and actually stand up while the board is moving a bit. Not locking the knees is huge as well, cause that will just put them back on the ground.